i:KS-rfX 






I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 



( 



"PSIOBS 



J7^. 






18X5 



: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



N 



w^- 



/ 




OINT-LACE 



AND 



Diamonds. 



POEMS liV ryAYVAY/A' A. BAKIIR. /A'. 



Il.mSTKAIIONS )!Y ADDII'. LI'.DY A R I ). 



hEW YORK : 
V. W. I'A'ITKRSON, IH I'.LISI Ii:i< 

32 ("KDAK StRI'-KI'. 



CO 



1875- 






Copyrighted, 1875. 



Press of KiLBouRNE Tompkins, 

16 Cedar St.. New York. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

After the German, ------- 9 

An Idyl of the Period, ------ 1 1 

Chivalrie, - - - - - - - - - lb 

A Piece of Advice, ------- 20 

Zwei Konige auf Orkadal, ------ 24 

A Song, --------- 26 

Making New Year's Calls, ------ 28 

Jack and Me, -------- ^^ 

Les Enfan ts Perdus, - - - - - - - 37 

Chinese Lanterns, ------- 41 

Thoughts on the Commandments, - - - ' - 45 

Love's Young Dream, - - - - - - 4^ 

Up the Aisle— Nell Latine's Wedding, - - - 53 

The " Stay-at-home's " Plaint, - - - - 5^ 

The "Stay-at-home's" P.EAN, - - - --63 

Ten Hours a Day, ------- 67 



TABLE OF COXTEXrS. 



PAGE. 

Sleeping Beauty, -------- 70 

Easter Morning, -------- 73 

A Legend of St. Valentine, ------ 78 

Frost-Bitten, -------- 83 

A Song, ---------- 85 

Old Photographs, - - 88 

"Le Dernier Jour D'lin Condamne," - . - . 91 

Christmas Greens, ------- 94 

Lake Mahopac— Saturday Night, - - . . . 98 

Matinal Musings, ------- 104 

A Romance of the Sa\y-Dust, - - - - -no 

Pyrotechnic Polyglot, - - - - - - 117 

Fishing, - - - - - - - - - - 120 

Nocturne, --------- 123 



Auto-da-Fe, 



125 



An Afterthought, ------- 1 30 



AFTER THE GERMAN. 



A SOPHOMORE SOLILOQUY. 



Blackboard, with ruler antl rubber before me, 

Chalk loosely held in my hand, 
Sun-gilded motes in the air all around me, 



Listlessly dreaming 1 stand. 



What do I care for the problem I 've written 

In characters gracefully slight. 
As the festal-robed beauties whose fairy feet flitted 

Through the maze of the German last liight ! 





AFTi-.R Till- i;/-:a\]ux. 






What 


\v 1 care for llie lexer of frielioi 


, 




Vov 


sine, or co-ordinate plane. 






When 


rair\- musicians are pla\ ing- the ' 


Mabel," 




Aiul 


waltzes each nerve in my brain 






( >n iii\ 


coat 's i)o\vdered chalk, not the 
dianunul 


dust of tl 


le 


Thai only last iii^iil sparkled ihcrc, 






I^ the 


i;aloj)'s wild whirl j)owdered down on m\ 






shoulder 






Vvom UirbuloiU tresses of liair. 






In my 


ear is the clatter of chalk ag-ains 


t blackboartl. 


Xot 


music's \olui)tuous swell ; 






Alas : 


this is -lire, —so pass mortal j^lea 


sures. 




And 


,- thank goodness, there goes tl 


le bell ! 




Jamaky, 1 


86;. 








lO 







AN 


IDYL 


'W 


I'llK 


im:r 


lOl). 




IN 


IWO 


I'AKIS 








I 


AR'I 


ONK. 






'' COMK 


rii^lil in. 


1I( 


)w are 


}()U, 


iM-ed ? 


Kill 


d a chair 


, anc 


1 -et a 


li-h 


l" 


"Well, 


old man 


recovered 


3et 




Vu 


ni Ihc AT 


athe 


r's jam 


last 


lli-llt.?" 


" Didn't 


dance. 


'I'll 


: ( German "s 


old." 


" Did 


n't \-ou ? 


I 


lad to 


lead- 


— 


Awful 


l)ore ! 


Did 


\-ou ,l;' 


) home.? " 


"No. 


Sat oil 


t with Mol 


y IVleadc. • 








II 







AN IDYL OF THE PERIOD. 



Jolly little girl she is — 

vSaid she didn't care to dance, 
'D rather sit and talk to me — 



Then she gave me such a glance ! 



So, when you had cleared the room, 
And impounded all the chairs, 

Having nowhere else, we two 
Took possession of the stairs. 

I was on the lower step, 

Molly, on the next above, 
(iave me her bouquet to hold, 

Asked me to undo her glo\e. 
Then, of course, I squeezed her hand. 

Talked about mv wasted life : 



./,\ invi (>/' ////■ ri.Kion. 

All ! il I (Mill, I .,i,l\ win 

S( )iiic line w ( )iii;m l( Il m\' w ilc, 

II..U I (I love her \\..ik l..r ll.T ! 

I lull. I ill liiilKJ llil()li:',li lllc we '(I u:ilL 

N< > < iiic (•\cr ( ;i i'c(| l( ii iiic 

'I':ikcs :i -ill lli:il kiiul ..I l;ilk. 



'I'licii, y(tii know, I used my (')'('S — 
Slic li(li('\((l IIIC, (•\(i\ w'l lid 

S:ii(l I ' iiiiisliri l;ilk so ' Jove ! 
,Sii( Il ;i \( ii( (• y( 111 Iicvci li(;i K I. 

( i;i\c IIIC s( line s\ iiiIm ili( Ik iw ci, 
' I l:i(! ;i liKii iiiiij',, I ill, so sweet, ' — 

I )oiri k IK iw w liric il is, I 'ill sure ; 
iMiisI li;i\c (Iroppcd il iii llic slicd, 



ll.)\v I si^ooiunl ! Ami she ha ! ha !- 
Well, I know il wasiTi ri^hl - 

Hut slio |)ilio(l 1110 so iiiiK'h 

Thai 1 kissoJ her — i)ass a h^^iil."' 



TARI' TWO. 



Mollv MeaJr. ^^c\\ I dccluv ! 

W ho (\ ]\A\c (hoii^hl oi' sooiuL;' you, 
Aflor what occiinwl last iiiglil. 

Oiil hero on tlic A\onuc ! 
Oh, you awful ! awful L^irl I 

'I'hcrc. (\o\\'[ blush. I saw il all. " 

>4 



yl.V inVI. ()/■ 77//'. /•/-./ao/). 



Siiw all what ? " " Ahciii I last \\v^\\\.- 
At the .Malli<-r"s in llic hall." 



(Jh, \ou horrid where were you ? 

WasiTl he ihe hi^^^esL <(oose ! 
Most men imisl he eau^hl, hul lie 

Kan his own ne( k in ihe iKjose. 

I was almost dead Lo dance, 

I d have done it if I ( ould, 
l>ni old ( \xv\ said I inusl stop, 

And 1 |»i'. Milled Ma I woidd. 
So I looked \\\) sweet, and said 

Thai I "d rathe-r talk to him ; 
no|)(j he didn't see rue lau^h, 

[aiekily the- lights were dim. 

•5 



.i.v mvi. 01- nil-: rERion. 


Mw how ho r//r/ sciuoc/.o \w\ haiui 1 




Ami ho K>okcil iii> in my face 




With his lovely hi*;- brown eyes — 




Roallv it s a dreadful case. 




' l-'arnest ! '- — I shouKl think he was ! 




Why, 1 lhoui;ht 1 \1 have to laugh 




When he kissed a llower he look. 




Looking, oh ! like such a call. 




I sujtpose he "s t;"(>t it now. 




In a wine-g'lass on his shelves ; 




It 's a mystery to me 




Wh\- men tiv// deceive themseKes. 




' Saw him kiss me ! ' — Oh, \ou wretch : 




Well, he boggeil so hard for one — 




i6 





,LV IDYL OF '/'///■: />/:h' /()/). 



Aixl I tlioii^Hil tlicrc "(1 no one know- 
So I — lei him. just for fun. 

I know il really wasn't ri.G^bt 

'j'o trillc with his feelings, dear, 

Puil men urc such stuck-up things ; 
11(' 'II recover — never fear. 



Ai;(.usT, 1870. 



CHIVALRIK. 



Under the maple boughs we sat. 

Annie Leslie and I together; 
She was trimming her sea-side hat 

With leaves — we talked about the weather 

The sun-beams lit her gleaming hair 
With rii)i)ling waves of golden glory. 

And eyes of blue, and ringlets (Iiir, 
Suggested many an ancient story 

i8 



CHIVALRIE. 



or fair-haired, ])lue-eye(l maids of old, 
In durance held by grim magicians, 

Of knights in armor rough with gold, 
Who rescued them from such positions. 

Above, the heavens aglow with light, 
Beneath our feet the sleeping ocean. 

E'en as the sky my hope was bright, 
Deep as the sea was my devotion. 

Her father's voice came through the wood. 
He "d made a fortune tanning leather ; 

I was his clerk ; 1 thought it good 

To keep on talking about the weather. 



July, 1866. 



19 



A I'll'X'P; Ol' ADXICI' 



So vol 'kv i;(Mn^ u« <;i\c up lliitalioii. nn dcAW 

Aiul K\ul a lilr sol>or aiul i|iiiot ? 
I'luMc, []\cvc, I ilon't (loubl the intonlion 's sincrro 
l>iit wait lill o(.\asion shall li\- i(. — 
Is l\ainsa\ oni;aL;\\l ? 
Now. don't look enraged I 
N'ou liko him, 1 know Jon't Jcnv it ! 



20 



M 





m \wd' 



dmfl 

' Wii 



A PIECE OF ADVfCE. 



W'liat, give w\) flirtatirin ? Change dimijles [i)X frowns ! 

Why, Nell, what s the use? You "re so pretty. 
That }'our beaut\- all sense of your wickedness drowns, 
When, some time, in country or city, 
^V)ur fate comes at last, 
We '11 forgive all the past, 
And think of you onl}- wiih [jity. 

Indeed ! — so "you feel for the woes of my sex I " 
" The legions of hearts you 've been breaking 
Your conscience affright, and } our reckoning peri)lex, 
Whene'er an account \ou 'ye been taking I 
" I 'd scarcely believe 
How deeply }ou grieve 
At the mischief your eyes have been making I '' 



.1 PIECE OE ADVICE. 



Now, Nellie ! — I'lirtalion 's the leaven of life ; 

It lit^htens its doiig-hy compactness. 
Don't always — the world with clecei)tion is rife- 
Construe what men say with exactness ! 
I i)ity the girl, 
\\\ society's whirl. 
Who "s troubled with matter-of-factness. 



A pink is a beautiful flower in its way, 

But rosebuds and violets are charming, 
Men don't wear the same houftonicrc everv dav 
Taste changes.— Flirtation alarming ! 
If e'er we complain, 
You then ma}- refrain, 
Your eyes of their arrows disarming. 



Ah, Nellie, be sensible ! Prythee, give heed 

I'o counsel a victim advances ; 
YouY eves, I acknowledge, will make our hearts bleed, 
Pierced through by love's magical lances, 
Put belter that fate 
Than in darkness to wait, 
Unsought b)' your mischievous glances. 

November, 1S71. 



23 



z\vi-:i koni(;e auf orkadal. 



FROM THE C.ERMAX. 



Thekk sat two kings ii})on Orkadal, 
The torches flamed in the ])illaretl hall. 

The minstrel sings, the red wine glows, 
The two kings drink with glocnn\- brows. 

Out spake the one, — " Give me this girl. 
With her sea-blue eves, and brow of ])earl. 



24 



Z//7-.Y k'OXlGK Al'F Oh'k'A/hlL 



The other answered in <;i()(>m\- scorn, 

She "s mine, oh brother ! — my oath is sworn. 

No other word spake cither king — 

In tiieir goklen sheaths the keen swords rini 

Together they pass from the hghted hall — 
Deep lies the snow by the castle-wall. 

Steel-sparks and torch-sparks in showers fall. 
Two kings lie dead npon Orkadal. 



November, 1869. 



A S()N(^ 



T siiori.DN'i' liko lo say. Tin sure 

I sliouKln't like Ic sa\ 
\\'li\- 1 think o\ \(Ui more, .\iul more, ami mow 

.\s (h\\ Hits arUT Ja\-. 
N(M- win ! SCO in the Suninior skios 
(>nl\ [\\c l>(.\uit\ of \nur swivel cncs, 

Tlio power h\ which \ou swa\ 
A kini;xloni of hearts, that lillle you i)|-i/c — 

1 siiouKln'i like to sav. 



1 shouliln"t like to saw 1 in sure, 
1 sluniKlnl like to sav . 



./ .S7;.V(;. 


Why 1 


hear N'oui' voic~c, S( 


) Ires 


1 ai 


1(1 pure, 




In I 


\c dasli of ihc laui; 


hin- 


spr 


'}'• 




Nor w 


i\' llic \va\('l(_'ls dia 


all I 


he 


u'hile, 




In ni;in\ a diamond-^L^lilU 


rin- 


file, 






Wit 


1 truant snn-hcanis 


play 








Should make nic rcnuMnl 


er \( 


ur 


rip|)lin_n 


smile - 


I sh 


onhhi'L Hkc to sa\'. 










1 shoi 


hhi'l hkc to sa\', I 


iU SL 


re, 






I sh 


ouhhi'L like to sa}', 










Why a 


11 the birds should 


ehiri 


) of 


)'OU, 




Wh 


) live so far away. 










l\ol)in 


, and oriole sin.n' U 


nie 




• 




Vvom 


die lealy depths of 


our ; 


ipp 


e tree, 




Wil 


1 trunk so .L^iiarled 


and ,<;rcy 


— 




Ikit wl 


ly }()ur name shou 


(1 lli( 


'ir 1 


)ur(len 


)C 


1 sh 


ouldn'l like to say. 










July, 1S70. 


27 











MAKING NEW YEARS' CALLS. 



Shining patent-leather, 
Tie of spotless white ; 

Through the muddy weather, 
Rushing round till night. 

(jutters all o'erflowing, 
Like Niagara falls ; 

Bless me ! this is pleasant, 



Making New Year's calls. 



28 



MAKING NEW YEARS' CALLS. 



Rushing up ihe door-step, 

Ringing at the bell — 
Mrs. Jones receive to-day ? " 
" Yes, sir." " Very well." 
Sending in your pasteboard, 

Waiting in the halls, 
Bless me ! this is pleasant, 
Making New Year's calls. 

Skipping in the parlor, 

Bowing to the floor, 
Lady of the house there, 

Half-a-dozen more ; 
Ladies' dresses gorgeous, 

Paniers, waterfalls. 
Bless me ! this is pleasant, 

Making New Year's calls. 

29 



m.Uk/.\\; xr.iv )-/:,ia\s' c.i/j.s. 



' W'isli )(ui Hnpin- Now Year"— 

" Main- thanks, 1 'in sure.'' 
' ^Tanv calls, as usual ? " 
" No ; T think thov 're fewer." 
Staring- at the carj)et. 

Cia/.ini;- at the walls ; 
Bless me, this is pleasant, 
Making- New ^\\ll•■s calls. 

' Ivealh', 1 must i;'o now. 

Wish 1 luul more leisure." 
" Wont you ha\e a ^-lass o{ wine.^" 
" Ah. thanks ! - i^Tcatest pleasure, 
Trv to come the uraceful, 

Till vcuir wine-glass falls ; 
niess me ! this is j^leasant, 
Making New Year's calls. 



30 



M.ik/.w; .V /■:!!' )'/■: 


/A'.V ( 


■///..v. 


Hostess looks del 


g-hted 


— 


Out of doors \ ( 


)U rus 


1 : 


Sit tlown at the ei 


ossin<; 




In a sea of si us 


h. 




job here for yonv 


tailor- 


— 


11 err \'on Schn 


eiderll 


lals— 


Bless me ! this is 


pleasant. 


]\h\kin,<; New \' 


ear's c 


alls. 


Pick }(Uirseir up 


sl()\vl\- 




1 leart with aiiL. 


uish t 


tin. 



Sunday-i^o-to-nieelings 




In a slate forlorn. 


' 


Kiek a i;ibing- boot-blaek. 




(iibing- b(H»l-blaek bawls. 




Bless me ! this is pleasant, 




Makini;- New Year's ealls. 




31 





.]/.iA/.\\; \/:ir )7;./a'.v (•. ///.v. 

1 l(Miu\ ;nul woo iho ilowiu', 

Hill your soul iloili iiuako, 
Ai most loaiTul niuhl-uiarcs — - 

I'uikcN, o\stors, cake. 
W'liilo each loaJrn honor 

I'hat \our rosl aj^pals, 
(,'rios, " l>cai- hcail ! Itow ploasant 

Makinu New \'oar's calls." 



Januaky J, 1S70. 



32 



ACK AND MV 



Shine? — All ri,^iit; here y' arc, ])oss ! 

Do it for jest five cents. 
(jCt 'em fixed in a minute, — - 

'That is, T nothin" pcrwcnls. 

Set your foot ri^-lit there, sir. 

Mornin 's kinder cold, — • 
(jocs right llirough a feller, 

When his coat 's a gittin' old. 

Well, yes, — call it a coat, sir. 

Though 'taint much more 'n a tear. 

(]it another ! — I can't, l^oss ; 
Ain't got the stamps to spare. 

33 



r.ICA' ./.\7) .l/A 



Make as nuuh as most on "cm ! 

\'os ; Inil then, ycr sec. 
Tlioy "vo v>nly L^ot one to do tor. 

riioiv "s iwv-* on us. Jack and n\o 

Him? — \\'liy. that little teller 
With a CUIUS lookin' back. 

Sitiin' there on the gratin'. 

Warniin" hisselt". — that "s jack. 



I'sed to go round sellin" pa[KM-s. 

The cats there was his lay : 
Hut he got shoved otV ot' the plattorni 

Inder the wheels one daw 



34 



J.\(l< .WD Ml: 



I^icl,- the coiidiK lor did iL, — 
( lin liiiii ;i rc^'lnr llirow,- — - 

I Ic did ii'l c;ir(; if lie killed liiii) ; 
Sonic on 'cm is jusL so. 

He's never been ;dl ii,^lil since, sir, 

Soiler (|niel nnd (|ueer ; 
llini and ine }2;()es lo_n"('tlier, 

lie 's what lliev call cashier. 



Style, that 'eie, for a l)()ot-])lack, 
Made the fellers lau,^dl ; 

Jack and me had to take it, 
JUit we don't mind no chaff. 



35 



JACK' AA7) ME. 



Trouble ! — not much, you bet, boss ! 

Sometimes, when biz is slack, 
I don't know how I 'd manage 

U \ wa' nt for little Jack. 

You jest once orter hear him : 
He says we need n"t care 

How rough luck is down here, sir, 
If some day we git up there. 

All done now, — how's that, sir.? 

Shines like a i)air of lamps. 
Morn in'! — Give it to Jack, sir. 

He looks after the stamps. 

February, 1S71. 

36 



LES ENFANTS PERDUS. 



What has become of the children all ? 

How have the darlings vanished ? 
Fashion's pied piper, with magical air, 
Has wooed them away, with their flaxen hair 
And laughing eyes, we don't know where, 

And no one can tell where they 're banished. 

' Where are the children ? " cries Madam Haut-tt)n, 
" Allow me, my sons and daughters, — 
Fetch them, /Vnnette ! " What, madam, those ? 
Children ! such exquisite belles and l)eaux : — 
True, they "re in somewhat shorter clothes 

Than the most of Dame Fashion's supporters. 

37 



l.ES EXFAXTS PERDrS. 



Good day, Master lukly ! Young- man about town, 

A merchant down in the swamp's son ; 
In a neat little book he makes neat little bets : 
He does n't believe in the shop cigarettes, 
But does his own rolling, — -and has for his pets 
Miss Markham and I.ydia Thompson. 



Pie and his comrades can drink champagne 

Like so many juvenile Comuses ; 
If you want to insult him, just talk of boys' play 
Why, even on billiards he 's almost b/ase, 
Drops in at Delmonico's three times a day, 

And is known at Jerry Thomas's. 



38 



LES EN FA NTS PERDUS. 


And here comes Miss Agnes. Good morning ! 


''lion 


'jour ! " 




Now, isn't that vision alarming ? 




Silk with panier, and pufis, and lace, 




Decking a figure of corsetted grace ; 




Her words are minced, and her spoiled young 


flice 


Wears a simper far from charming. 




Thirteen only a month ago,— 




Notice her conversation : 




Fashion — that bonnet of Nelly Perroy's — 




And now, in a low, confidential voice, 




Of Helena's treatment of Tommy Joyce, — " 




Aged twelve, — that's the last flirtation. 




39 





LES EX FA NTS PERDVS. 



What has become of the children, then ? 

How can an answer be given ? 
Folly filling each curly head, 
Premature vices, childhood dead, 
Blio-hted blossoms. — can it be said 



' Of such is the kingdom of Heaven ? ' 



May, 1870. 



40 



CHINESE LANTERNS. 



Through the windows on the park 
Float the waltzes, weirdly sweet ; 
In the light, and in the dark, 
Rings the chime of dancing feet. 
Mid the branches, all a-row, 
Fiery jewels gleam and glow ; 
Dreamingly we walk beneath, — 
Ah, so slow ! 

41 



c///x/-:s/-: /..ixTKRXs. 



All the air is full of love ; 

INIisty shadows wraj) us round ; 
Light below and dark above, 

mietl with softly-surging sound. 
See the forehead o{ the Night 
Garlandetl with flowers of light, 
And her goblet crowned with wine, 
Golden bright. 



Ah ! those tlcep, alluring eyes, 

Quiet as a haunted lake ; 
In their depths the passion lies 
Half in slumber, half awake. 

Lay thy warm, white hand in mine, 
Let the fmgers clasp and twine. 
While my eager, i)anting heart 
Beats 'Liciinst thine. 



CI/IXKS/': I.AXTK/^XS. 



Brinp: thy velvet lips a-near, 

]\Iine arc hungry for a kiss, 
(jlaclly will I sate them, dear ; 
Closer, closer, — this, — and this. 
On thy lips love's seal I lay, 
Nevermore to pass away ; — 
That was all last night, you know, 
But to-day — 

Chinese lanterns hung in strings, 
Painted pai)er, })enny dips, — 
Filled with roasted moths and things, 
Creasy with the tallow drii)s ; 
Wet and torn, with rusty wire, 
Blackened by the dying fire ; 
Withered flowers, trampletl deep 
In the mire. 



43 



cii/XF.sr. L.ixrr.hW's. 

Chinese lanterns : Bernstein's bainl 

Belladonna ; lily white ; 
These made up the fairv-land 

Where 1 wandered all last night ; 
Ruled in all its rosv glow 
By a merry (Jueen, you know : 
jollv, dancing, laughing, wilehiui 
Veuve CMicjuot. 



Ti'i.v 7, 1S70. 



44 



riioiunirs on iiii". (•()i\imanm)]mkn'I's. 



I.ovK \()iir neighbor as yourself,""- 

So ihe ])ars()n ])reaclies ; 
'rinU 's one hall" the I)eeah)gue.— 

So the Prayer-ho()k leaches. 
1 lair my (hit\- I can do 

With l)iit little labor, 
For with all my heail and soul 

1 do lo\e mv neighbor. 



45 



Tuorciirs ox the commaxdmexts. 

Mighty little credit, that. 

To my self-denial ; 
Not to love her, though, might be 

Something of a trial. 
Why, the rosy light, that peeps 

Through the glass above her, 
Lingers round her lips : — you see 

E'en the sunbeams love her. 

So to make my merit more, 

I '11 go beyond the letter : — 
Love my neighbor as myself.^ 

Yes. and ten times better. 
Yox she "s sweeter than the breath 

Of the Spring, that passes 
Through the fragrant, budding woods, 

O'er the meadow-grasses. 

46 



TJIOL'GHTS OX THE COMMANDMENTS. 

And I 've preached the word I know, 

For it was my duty 
lY) convert the stubborn heart 

Of the Httle beauty. 
Once again success has crowned 

]\Iissionary labor, 
. For her sweet eyes own that she 

Also loves her neighbor. 

May, 1S72. 



47 



LOVF/S VOUX(] DREAM. 



1'hank aou — much obliged, old hov 
Yes, it 's so ; report says true. 

1 'm engaged to Xell Latine — 
What else could a fellow do ? 



(lovernor was getting tierce ; 

Asked me, with paternal frown, 
When I meant to go to work. 

Take a wife, and settle down. 
Stormed at my extravagance. 

Talked o[' cutting off su}>plies— 
Fairly bullied me, you know — 

Sort of thing that I despise. 

48 



1 



/.or/cs )()i\(; /)/,'/■:.{.]/. 

well, \()ll SCO, I lost \V(H"Sl \\A\ 

A I I lie races -(jovcmmi or rni^cd — 
So, t( » li\- and SDK lolli him (|( .wn, 

I wciil off, and L^ot cnL;"a,L!,X'(l. 
Sort of ])iil up lliinn', you know — 

All ari-an^cd widi old Latiiic — 
Nelly raved about il (irst, 

Said liei- ' pa wa.s awful mean ! ' 

Now il 's done we don't nuu li mind- 
'I'ell tlic Irudi, 1 'm rather ,L;lad ; 

Looking- at it every way, 
( )ne must own it isn't ])ad. 



She's ij;-o()(Mookin<;', i-alher rich, 
Mother left lier cpiite a j)ilc ; 

49 



/.ov/-:\s )-oi\(; dk/iam. 

Dances, i^ocs out c\cr\\\ here ; 

1^'inc old fainih', I'cal i^ood slylc. 
'I'licn she 's L^ootl. as L;irls <;•() now. 

Sonic iilca ol wroni;" anil rii;ht, 
Don't Icl cNciy man she niccls 

Kiss licr, on the scU'-samc niglit. 

W'c clon"t do affection nuich, 

Nell and 1 are real '^(n^^X hiends. 

Call there often, sit and chat. 

Take her "round, antl there it enth 



Spooning- I Well, 1 tried it once — 

Acted like an awful calf — 
Said I really loved her. Cad ! 

\'ou should just ha\e heard her laugh. 

SO 



L o r 7- ' .v }V{ wc n r ea m. 



Why, she ran mc for a moiitli, 

'I'cascd mc till she made me wince 

Mustn't llirt with her,' she said, 
So I haven't tried it since. 

"r would l)e pleasant to l)e lox'ed 

Like you read about in l)()oks — 
Minglini; souls, and tender eyes — 

Love, and that, in all their looks; 
Thou.L^hts of you, and no one else ; 

Voice that has a tender rin','-, 
Sacrifices made, and — well — 

You know— all that sort of thing. 

'I'hat 's all worn-out talk, they say, 
Don't sec any of it now — 



/ orrs )\)(\(; i)i<i:a.\i. 



S]n u mill;; oil \ ( uii liiuucc 
Isn I i',i M m1 sI \ If, ;iii\ Ik )\\ . 

|nsl siippitsc lli;il ( me of us, — 

Nell iiiiil iiic, \ ( Ml kiM 'W S( line (l;i\ 
( 1( il like lli;il ( HI St line one else 

i\li;'Jil l>c iMllicr ;i\\k\v.ir.l cli ! 
All 111 (Mincsl, likr llic 1)1. oks 

W'tMiKln'l il lu' .iwliil I(U1,l;Ii ! 
I..\c ' il 1 I. Ill psli.iw, \\li:il Ix.sli ! 

Xcll ,iiul 1 ;ii\' salt- ('lit uc'li. 



Some lime ill llu- S|Miii^, I ^lU'ss ; 

\\v t >11 ll.llltl It 1 W isll MS j()\ ? 

\\v ;i i;i(U)iusm;ni, il \ t mi like 

Lois ol wiiu' l;(Uh1-Jj) c, cUl lio). " 



I >l > I'Mltl K. tS 



52 



in- iiii': AisLiv 

(Nki.i. I,atink's Wkddin*;.) 



Takk my cloak and now (ix my veil, Jenny ; 

How silly to (ovci- one's (ace 1 
I mi^lit as well be an old woman, 

15,, I tlien diere's one condoii it's lace. 
Well, Nvlial has IxHonx- of diosc nsliers?— 

Oil, I'a, have you K'*' "'V l)ou<|ncl? 
I '11 n-ee/e slandini^' here in the h^hhy, 

Whv doesn't the orL^anisl |)lay i 
'I'hcy 've started at last what a husth,' ! 

Stop, Pa '.—they 're not far enon«,di wait ! 

53 



rr rill-: .us/.r. 



( >iu' inimitc intMc n(n\- ! Ho koc|> strp. Pa ! 

Tlioio, ilroj) Jiiy trail, laiic ! is it sliaiglu? 
I liopr I l(>i>i; limiii, ami siirinivini;- ! 

Tlio (.liinxli imisl he poiicrlly full — 
rnunl L;nuioiis. ploasc> (jon'l walk so fast, Pa ! 

llo (lon'l snan to liiink tliat liains pull, 
riu" cluincol at lasl iiiiiul tlio stop. Pa ! — 

1 Joii't frol oinbariasscil at all 
Put, nn I What s ilio iiiinistor sa\inL;"? 

( )li, 1 know, that i>ait 'hoiit Saint Pan). 
1 liopt' nn' j)osition is ^racxM'ul — 

Mow aw kwai"ill\- Xcll\- Pane stood ! 
Not lawlulh- W joinoil to^otlior, 

Now spoak " as if an\- one woulik 
Oh, Joai-, now it 's my tnrn to answer — 

1 do wish that Pa wiuiKl stand still 



54 



f^?^"^' 




Serve him, love, honor, and keep him' — 

How sweetly he says it — 1 will. 
Where "s Pa? — there, I knew he W fori^^'t it 

When the time came U) give me away— 
1, Helena, take thee— love— cherish — 

And"— well, I can't helj) it, — " obey." 
Here, Maud, take my l)ou(iuet--(lon't drop it- 

I hope Charley 's not lost the rin- ! 
just like him !— no— goodness, how heavy ! 

It's really an elegant thing. 
It 's a shame to kneel down in white satin — , 

And the flounce real old lace— but I must— 
I hope that they 've got a clean cushion, 

They 're usually covered with dust. 
All over— ah, thanks! — now, don't fuss, Pal- 
Just throw back my veil, Charley— there ! 

55 







r/' /■///•; .//.s7./-; 




oil, hoihcv ! Whv rouldn't 


he 


kiss nie 


Wil 


itMii nuissiiiL;- up all n 


IV h 


air ! 


^'(Ul^ ; 


irni, C'lini 


low there i^i 


es t 


he ori;-an — 


Wli 


> "il think 


wouKl be SI 


eh : 


\ crowd ! 


Ol). 1 


imistn"t It 


)(>k rounil, 


\1 


ori;-otten. 


Sco, 


("hnrlov. 


wiu) was it t 


hat 


bowed ? 


Why 


it "s Ncll> 


• Allaire, wii 


h lu 


M- husband — 


She 


's aw fully 


jealous, I k 


now 




Most 


all of niv 


ihin^-s were 


ini] 


orted, 


AlH 


she luul 


1 home-mad 


e //■- 


'//OV •(///. 


Alul il 
1 Ji 


icro s An 
lint oxpoi. 


lie Wheeler 
•t her at all 


K 


ate llenmMi — 


If she 


"s \\o[ in 


that same oKl hi 


ue satin 


She 


wore at t 


le Charity H 


all ! 




Is tlui 


1-annv \> 


'ade ? l-.ait 


h \\ 


nnmeton — 


Aiu 


l-annia. 


uul Jo all 
5^' 


the 


4-irls ! 



rr 77//': .//.s/.a. 

1 knew lli.il the)' "d not miss my wedding — 
I hope they "11 ull notice my j)eaiis. 

Is the carriage there ? -give me my cloak, Jane, 
Don't get it all over my veil — 

No ! you take the other seat, (diarley — 
I# need all of this for my trail. 

July, 1871. 



57 



rilK -STAN' AT llOMr.S" PI. AIM' 



TiiK SiMJiig- has grown [o Suniiiior ; 

riic sun is tierce and hii;"h : 
The eily shrinks, and withers 

Henealh the Iniming- sky. 
.Vihmthiis trees are hagrant. 

And thicker shatlows cast. 
W'heie be rr\ -girls, with \oices sinilK 

And watering- carts gi^ past. 

58 



THE 


" STA y .1 T IfOMh'rs'' ri.AIN'l'. 


In offi 


ces like ovens 


\\c 


sit without our coats ; 


Our curCs arc moist and shapeless, 1 


No 


collars bind out throats. 1 


We carry liuj^c umbrellas 1 


On 


15road Street and on Wall, 


Oh, h 


)\v thermometers j^o uj) ! 


Anc 


, oh, how stocks do fall ! 


'I"he nights are full of musiCj 1 


Mel 


odious 'I'euton troops 


]k'-ui 


e us, calmly smokiui;. 


On 


balconies and stoops. 


Witli c\-es hall-shut, and dreamy, 1 


We 


watch the lire-flies' s])ark, 1 


And imai^-e far-off faces, 1 


As c 


lay dies into dark. 




59 





'.s/'./ )■ 


.//• //( 


.i//;".s" /•/. 


i/.v/: 












Tlic avciuio i.s 


lonol\'. 






VUc 


housos 


ohoko^ 


with iliist: 




■Vhc si 


ullors. 


Kinwl ; 


ml holioJ. 




VUc 


l)oll-kn 


v4>s all 


a-iusi. 




No hi 


>ssou\-li 


ko sj>iii 


\i; Jiossos, 




No 


a cos \ o 


uui; aiu 


1 lair. 




l-roin 


" Piok 


ols '■ to 


" Tho l>riinswiok." 1 


No 


Momon 


ulor ihoro. 




The L;irls wo used to 


walk with 




Aro 


far awaw alas ! 






VUc toot ihal 


kIssihI i 


s pa\onion 




Aio 


iloop in 


oouuirv urass. 




Alonj; 


iho soo 


Uod ho 


Igo-rows, 




Anu 


>Ui; tho 


i^roon (, 


>K1 troos. 




Aio h\ 


oouiini; 


oit\- fat. 


OS 




'No;l 


th rosy- 


liiunl p 
60 


ongoos. 





'/'///■: 


".s/: / ) ./ /■ 


//(>.]//:.\ 


" /'/ 


//\ /■, 


'VUv.y 


'!•(; tolluniuH- 


;il 


Nc\v| 


oil ; 




'V\H\y 're balliiii^ 


;i 


( 'a|)( 


l\I;iy 


; 


In S:i 


r;it(.<;;rs l);ill 


< K 


» 11 1 s 






Til 


vy (l;in(c llic 


Im 


ins ;i\v;iy. 




'I'licii 


voices lliiou 


L.l. 


llic (| 


uicl 




or 


liiiiinlcil ( ';il 


ski 


11 l.rc; 


ik ; 




( )|- i( 


nsc lliosc (li( 


an 


i\ (lr\' 


ids, 




'III 


(• n)ni|)lis of 


Va 


1.0 L; 


ikc. 




■V\m- I 


III n( Is \v(; \c 


Vi\ 


ll.lOli 


,1; 1 1 ( i 


•1 mans, 


And s(nicc/((|, 1 


)('r( lia n( 


•, of 


\'0|C, 


Now 


\v.\\\y \},\"AS\) t 


IC 


l)ii(|l( 


, 


. 


111 


c niwllct, ;iii(l 


ll 


<• oar. 






'Vhv, ( 


)(,'S lli;iL wroi 


'kI 


ll oin 


ruin 




On 


oIImt men 1 


.0 


< (low 


.; 


' 


Wc; 'i 


■ l)Ul the Imo 


.<• 


1 play 


diin- 


s 


Tlicy '\c I'll Ih! 


ill 


1 in t( 


» W II . 








>i 













./'/• i/oA/Frs'' 


ri.Aixr. 


7 •///•; • 


.v/:/ )' 


(^h. hn 


ppv C,v 


niMaiiic Nature, 


\Vh. 


so \v;iiu 


lerini;- chiKlren 


come 


'lo lio-1 


It with 


liajipv laces; 




riic 


ilcar ol 


il niothei-hoiiie, 1 


1V> torn 


Icr will 


our (larliiit»"s. 




Kad 


1 nioirv 


maiden hears 




Such 1( 


>vo ami l(>n_i2:inu: with 1 


ler — 


Men 


"s lives 


are \vra])i)etl in 


theirs. 


Jl'i.Y, iS;©. 








( 






\ 


























1 
















! 




• 












1 




62 





'11 IK "STAY AT IIOMK'S" P/I^AN. 



'I'liK cvcniii^^s art' (hiinpci- and colder ; 

'J'lic iiuiplcs and sumacs arc red, 
'1'Ik; wild iMiuiiioclial is c()l^in^,^ 

'I'lic (lowers in the -arden are dead. 
'I'he steamers are all overflowin.^', 

Tiie railroads are all l(Kidcd down, 
And Ihe l)eaulies we 've si,^dle(l for all Summer 

Are liurryin<^- hack into town. 
63 





yy/A" -.vy / )■ 


./ /• //(). 


// '.S" /'. 


/■:.i\. 




Tl 


(>V romr fiom th 


c hanks 


of tlu> II 


lulsoii, 






I'"itMn \\\c s;nuls ( 


.r tlu> 1? 


ranrh, an 


(1 C'ai)o 


May, 


I'l 


»m llir pallors o 


■ hri-lit 


Sarato,i;;v, 








l'"i(Mn llir il.isli () 


r Nia-ai 


a's s]>rav. 






I'l- 


(Mil inisl\-, siM-sa 


t Nanai. 


;ansi>lt, 








l''it)in Mahopar's 


nia^L^iia 


lake, 






Tl 


ION' (.oinr on lliri 


■ \\a\- to 


in'w oon 


pu>sts, 






I'lioN "it lon^ini;- 


for mor 


C> luMltS 1 


. iMoak 




i;\ 


Ml \\'\\|>orl is (111 


11 ami il 


OSOllOll ■ 








its billowN l)i\uli 


OS no in 


OiO 






Al 


\Ac bii^lil with s\vt\M oro 


an-kisso(l 


fa 00s, 






1 ,o\o's bcariMi Wi 


his sol 


Ml tho sli 


>ro. 




■I'l 


\c rui;L;c\J W'liilt^ 


Hills o\' 


W^w 1 lampshiro 


, 




I"ho last of tluMT 


K>vors 1 


aw soon. 






I'l 


u> orluH\s arc loft 


to their 


sliiinbors 


» 






No dainty loci lli 


road I ho 
64 


ravino. 







yy/A' ".s/; / )• ,//■ //<>:\//'::r' /vav/a'. 

On Wisl I'nillt's (IrliMlilfiil |);ir;|(|(:o-)-,, 1111(1 

Si^lis iii;iii\' ii Iinplcss ( ;i(IcL, 
W'lin 's busked tliioiiL-ji llic loii;^^ (l;i\s of Siinmicr 

I II llir smiles of ;i ( il)' ( n(|iietl.(: ; 
And now llie in( i|iieiil Ikto 

I'eliolds 1ms eiK li;inl icss de|):irt, 
Willi die spoils o( her li.v.liMy won liininpli, 

I lis l)iilto)is, ;i,s w(dl ;is liis lie;irl.. 



( 'onie, di")' your eyes, ( ir;iiidinodier X;itiii'(;, 

'I'hcy cure not ;i wliil. lor )onr wo(.' ; 
Tlie cily is (;i.lliii<( lier d;in;j;liL(;rs — 

W(' (nii'l sp;ire dnm lon^^cr, tliey know — 
Our heMUlilul, Lender voiced d;i,rlin;^^s, 

VVidi die l)lue of die dee|) Suiuiner skies, 
And die i^dow of llie hri^hl. Summer siinsliin 

]'',iilr;i|)p'd in dieii' mis( liievous eyes. 

^'5 



THE " ST A y A T JIOME'S " ]\ KAX. 

Wc kiunv their cxi)cnscs are awful. 

Thai horror unspeakal)lc tills 
The souls of unfortunate fathers 

Who foot up their ilress-maker's hills. 
That they \1 barter their souls for French cantly 

That tlianionds ruin their peace ; 
That thev rave over niiddle-aged actors. 

Ami in other respects are — welh geese. 

We laugh at them, boys, but we love them, 

For under their nonsense we km>w 
They "nc hearts that are honest and loving, 

An(.l souls that are whiter than snow. 
So out with that bottle of Roederer ! 

Large glasses, boys ! Up goes the c\>rk I 
All charged } To the belles of creation, 

The glorious girls of New York. 

October, 1S70. 

66 



TEN HOURS A DAY. 



Skjn the pctilioii ! ' ' Write my name ! ' 

'She said, ask me ! ' — oh, she 's foohn^,^ ; 
Where do you think a i^irl like me 

Could lind the time for so much schooling? 
Why, I 've been here since I was ei,u:ht or so — 

That 's ten years now — and it seems like longer 
The hours are h-om eight till six — you see 
It wears one out — I once was stronger. 
' A had cough ! ' oh, that 's nothing, sir ; 

It comes h-om the dust, and bending over. 
It hurts me sometimes — no, not now. 
''J'his 1 ' why, a flower, — a bit of clover. 

67 



TEN I/OL'KS A DAY. 



I picked it up as I came to work — 

It grew in the grass in some one's airy, 
Where it stood, and nodded all alone 

Like a little green-cloaked, white-capped fairy. 
'P^ond of flowers !' I like them — yes — 

Though, goodness knows, I don't see many — 
I 'd have to buy them — they cost so much — 
And I never can spare a single penny. 

'Go to the park ! ' — how can I, sir.^ 

The only day that I have is Sunday ; 
And then there 's always so much to do 

That before I know it, almost, it 's Monday. 
Like it, sir, like it ! — why, when T think 

Of the woods, and the brook with the cattle drinking- 
1 was country-bred, sir- — mv heart swells so 

That 1 — there, there, what "s the use of thinking ! 

68 



TEX HOURS A DAY 



If I could write, sir — 'make a cross, 

And let you write my name below it" — 
No, please ; I "m ashamed I can't, sometimes, — 

I don't want all the girls to know it. 
And what "s the use of it, am'way ? 

They '11 just say shortly, with careless faces, 
' If you 're not suited, you 'd better leave' — 

There 's plenty of girls to fill our places. 
They're kind enough to their own, no doubt — 

Our heatl just worships his own young daughter. 
Just my age, sir — she 's gone away 

To si)end the Summer, across the water. 
But lis — oh, well, we 're only 'hands,' 

Do you think to please us they '11 bear losses .'' 
No, not a cent's w^orth — ah, you '11 see — 

I 'm a working girl, sir, and I know bosses. 

June, 1873. 



69 



sr.EKPiXG im<:auty 

A Parable. 



Vol" remember the nursery-legend — 
We heard in the earlv days. 

Ere we knew of the world's deception 
Or walked in its dusty ways, 

And dwelt in a lantl of the fliiries 
Wliere the air was golden haze — 

Of the maid, o'er whom the Summers 

Of youth passed, like a swell 
Of melody all unbroken, 

70 



SLEEPING BEAUTY. 



Till evil wrought its spell, 
And drcam-embroiclcrecl curtains 
( ){ slumber round her fell. 

The wood grew uj) round her castle, 

The centuries o'er it rolled, 
\\'rai)i)ing its slumb'rous turrets 

In clinging robes of mould, 
And her name became a legend 

By Winter fu-e-sides told. 

'J'ill the Prince came over the mountains. 
In the morning-glow of youth ; 

The forest sank before him 
Like wrong before the truth, 

And he passed Uie dim old portal, 
With its warders so uncouth, 

71 



S/.KFJ'/.W; B /-:.{( 7')'. 



Woke with a kiss the 1^-incess, 
And broke enchaiUmeiU's chain, 

The sleepy old castle wondered, 
In its cobweb-cumbered brain. 

At the tide o{ life antl pleasure 

Tliat ptnired through each stony vein. 

And so love conciucred an evil 

Centuries oKl in might, 
Scattering tlri^wsy glamour. 

Piercing the murky night, 
Leading from thrall and darkness 

Beauty, and joy, and light. 

Al'C'.UST, 1S70. 



72 



EASll^R MORNING. 



Too early, of course ! Plow provoking ! 

I told Ma just how it would be. 
T might as well have on a wrapper, 

For there isn't a soul here to see. 

There ! Sue Delaplaine's pew is emi)ty, — 

I declare if it isn't too bad ! 
I know my suit cost more than her's did. 

And I wanted to see her look mad. 

73 



EAS'JER MORXIXC. 



I do think that scxlon 's too stupid — 
He s put some one else iu our pew — 

And tlie girl's dress just kills mine completely 
Now wiiat am I going to do ? 

'I'he psalter, and Sue isn't here yet ! 

I don't care, I think it's a sin 
For people lt> get late to service, 

Just to make a great show coming in. 

Perhaps she is sick, and can't get here — 
She said she 'd a headache last night. 

IKnv mad she'll he after her fussing ! 
I declare it would serve her just right. 



Oh, you '\e got here at last, my dear. ha\e you 
Well, 1 don't think }ou need be st) proud 

74 



EASTER MORNING. 



( )r that bonnet, if V^irot did make it, 
II "s liorrid fast-looking and loud. 

What a dress ! — for a i,nrl in her senses 

To go on the street in light blue ! — 
And those coat-sleeves — they wore them last Summer 

Don't doubt, though, that she thinks they 're new. 

Mrs. (jray's jjolonaise was imported — 

So dreadful ! — a minister's wife, 
And thinking so much abcnit fashion ! — 

A pretty example of life ! 

The altar's dressed sweetly— I wonder 

Who sent those white flowers for the font ! — 

Some girl who "s gone on the assistant — 
Don't doubt it was Bessie Lamont. 

75 



£ASV7':A' MOAW'/XC. 

Just look at her now, little humbug- ! — 
So devout — I suj)pose she don't know 

That she 's bending her head too far over, 
And the ends of her switches all show. 

What a sight Mrs. \\a\\\ is this morning ! 

That woman will kill me some day. 
With her horrible lilacs and crimsons ; 



Why will these old things dress so gay .^ 



And there's Jenn\- Welles with Fred. Tracy- 
She 's engaged lo him now— horrid thing ! 

Dear me ! I 'd keej) on m\- glove sometimes, 
If I did have a solitaire ring ! 

How^ can this girl next to me act so — 
The way that she turns round and stares, 

76 



KASl'r.R MORXIXG. 



And then makes remarks about people ; 
She "d better l)e saying her prayers. 

Oh dear, what a dreadful long sermon ! 

He must love to hear himself talk ! 
And it "s after twelve now,— how i)r()voking ! 

I wanted to have a nice walk. 

Through at last. Well it isn't so dreadful 
After all, for we don't dine till one ; 

How can people say church is poky! — 
So wicked ! — I think it 's real fun. 



JULV, 1S74. 



77 



A T.EGKND OF ST. VALEXTIXK. 



Come ! Why. halloa, that you, Jack ? 

How 's the world been using you ? 
\^'ant your pi))e.' it 's in the jar — 

'Chink I mi^ht he looking blue. 
Mautl "s been breaking off with me. 

Fact — see here — I 've got the ring. 
That "s the nt^te she sent it in ; 

Read it — soothing sort of thing. 

Jack, you know I write sometimes — 
Must have read some things of mine. 

Well, I thought 1 "d just send INIaud 
Somethini!- for a valentine. 



78 



A LEGEND OE SE. WiLEX'ElXE 



So 1 gruLuul some verses out 



In the softest kind of style, 
Full of love, and tliat, you know — 

Bothered nie an awful while ; 
(^)uile a heavy jMece of work. 

vSo when 1 had got them done — 
Why, 1 thought them much too good 

just \o waste that way on one. 
Jack, T told y(Hi, didn't I } 

All about that black-eyed girl 
Up in Stratford — last July — ■ 

Oh ! vou know ; you saw her curi. 
Well, old fellow, she 's the one 

That this row is all about. 
For I sent her — who 'tl have thought 

Maud would ever fmd it out — 



79 



.-/ /./: 


c;/':.\7) OF sy\ i\ilf.xt/xe. 


Those same verses, word tor worI. 


llan 


4- it man ! you needn't roar — 


' Splemi 


d joke ! ' well, so 1 thought — 


Xo, c 


lon"t think so anv more. 


Vestercl 


ay, you kmnv it rained, 


I M 1 


ieen up late — at a ball — 


I^idiri 


know what else to do — 


Went up anil made ^laiul a call, 1 


l"\uiiul 


some other girl there, too. 


Thex 


were i>laying a duett. 


''I'^red. iiu' cousin, Xellv Deane," — 1 


Ves, 


Jack, there was my brunette ; 


\'ou sh 


ould just have seen me. Jack — 


Now 


old fellow, please don't laugh. 


I feel bad about it — (act— 1 


And 


T really can't stand chatl". 




80 



A LEGEND OF ST. VALENTINE. 



Well, I tried to talk to INIaiid, 

There was Nell, though, sitting by; 

Every now and then she 'd laugh. 
Sure I can't imagine why. 

INIaud would read that beastly poem, 

Nell 's eyes said in just one glance, 
Wont I make you pay for this, 

If I ever get the chance.' 
Some one came and rang the bell, 

Just a note for Nell, by post. 
Jack, I saw my monogram — 

I 'd have rather seen a ghost. 
Yes — her verses — I suppose 

That her folks had sent them down- 
Couldn't get up there, you know — 

Till she 'd left and come to town. 



A /j:GKxn Of ST. r.iLfxr/XK. 



Nelly looked thcni ciuickly ilirougli — - 

LauL^lRHl— by Jove, I lluuii^iil she M clu>ke. 
Miuul-- -lie "11 kill me dear I oh, dear I — 

Read that: isn't it a joke?" 
jMaud i^laiiced thnuigh them— sank right down 

On the sola — hid her face — 
C'ryin.i;- ! ' — not nuieh — laughing-. Jack — 

Don't think she 's a hopeless case. 
I just grabbed my hat and left — 

Only wish 1 "d gone before. 
I low lhe\- laughed I — I heard them, Jack — 

Till T got outside the door. 
There, confession 's done me gooii, 

I can never win her back, 
So I "11 calmly let her slide — 

Pass the ash-cup. will you. Jack."" 



FEBKrARV 14. 1S71. 



82 



f 



FROST-IUTTEN. 



\Vk were riding- home from the Carroll's ball — 
Nelly Sansargent and I, you know ; 

The white flakes fluttered about our lamps, 

And our nois}- wheels were hushed in the snow 

Her white arms nestled along her laj), 

Her hands half-holding, with languid grace. 

Her fading violets ; fair to see 

Was the dreamy look in her sweet, young'face. 

I watched her, saying never a word. 

For T would not waken those dreaming e}'es ; 

The breath of the violets filled the air, 

And m\- thoughts were many, and far from wise. 

83 



FROSl^filTTEX 



At last I said to her. bending near. 

Ah. \elly Sansargent, s\veet "t would be. 
To ride on dreaming, all our lives. 

Alone with die violets — you and me. 

Her lair lace reddened, her sweet eves fell. 
And. low as the murmur of Summer rills, 

Her answer came. It was — "Yes, perhaps — 
But who would settle our carriage bills.- " 

The tremulous violets breathed their last. 

Our wheels rolled hard on the stones just then. 
Where the snow had drifted : the subject dropped. 

It has never been taken up again. 

December. 1S73. 



84 



A SONG. 



Sprinc; time is coming again, my dear, 

Sunshine and violets blue, you know; 
Crocuses lifting their sleepy heads 

Out of their sheets of snow. 
And I know a blossom sweeter by far 
Than violets blue, or crocuses are. 

And bright as the sunbeam's glow. 
But how can I dare to look in her eyes. 

Colored with heaven's own hue. 
That wouldn't do at all, my dear, 

It really wouldn't do. 

85 



A S0X(7. 



Her hair is a ripjtling, tossini:i: sea ; 

In its i^oUlen clei)tlis llie fairies i'»lay, 
Beckonin<i^, dancini^:, mocking there, 

Lnring my lieart away. 
And her merry li]« are the ripest red 
That ever addled a ])()()r man's head, 

Or led his wits astray. 
What wouldn't I give to taste the sweets 

Of those rose leaves wet with dew ! 
l)Ut that wouldn't do at all, my dear, 

It really wouldn't do. 

Her voice is gentle, and clear and pure ; 

It rings like the chime of a silver l)ell. 
And the thought it wakes in my foolish head, 

I 'm reallv afraid to tell. 



86 



./ SOXG'. 

Her litlle feet kiss the ground below, 

And her hand is wliite as the whitest snow- 
That e'er from heaven fell. 

But 1 wouldn't dare to take that hand, 
Reward for my love to sue ; 

That wouldn't do at all, my dear, 
It really w'ouldn't do. 

July, 1S70. 



87 



OLD PHOl^OORAPHS. 
In a Photograph Album. 



Old lady, })ut your t^iasses on, 

With polished lenses, mountings golden, 

And once again look slowly through 
This album oUlen. 

How the old portraits take you back 

To friends who once would round you gather- 
All scattered now, like frosted leaves 

In blustering weather. 



OLD PIIO TO GRA PUS. 


Why, who is this, the bright coquette, 


Her eyes with Love's bright arrows laden ! 


"Poor Nell, she's living single yet— 


An ancient maiden." 


And this, the fragile poetess. 


Whose high soul-yearnings nought can smother? 


" She 's stouter flir than I am now, — 


A kind grandmother." 


Who is this girl with flowing hair. 


Who on the golden future muses .? 


" What splendid hair she had, and now 


A 'front' she uses." 


89 


■■*■ 



OLD niOTOCRArilS. 



And this? — "Why, if it's not my own; 

And did I really e'er resemble 
lliat bright young creature ! Take the book 

My old hands tremble. 

" It seems like only yesterday 

We all were young; ah, how time passes." 
Old lady, put the album down, 
And wipe your glasses. 

June. 1S70. 



90 



'LV DERNIER JOUR D'UN CONDAMNE. 



Old coat, for some three or four seasons 

We 've been jolly comrades, but now 
We part, old companion, forever ; 

To fate, and the fashion, I bow. 
You 'd look well enough at a dinner, 

I 'd wear you with pride at a ball, 
Bui I 'm dressing to-night for a wedding- 

IMy own, and you 'd not do at all. 

91 



"Z^ DERNIER JOUR HUN CONDAMXEr 

You 've too many wine-stains about you, 

You're scented too much with cigars, 
When the gas-light shines t\ill on your collar, 

It glitters with myriad stars, 
That wouldn't look well at my wedding ; 

They 'd seem inappropriate there — 
Nell doesn't use diamond powder. 

She tells me it ruins the hair. 

You 've been out on Cozzen's piazza 

Too late, when the evenings were damp. 
When the moon-beams were silvering Cro'nest, 

And the lights were all out in the camp. 
You 've rested on highly-oiled stair-ways 

Too often, when sweet eyes were bright. 
And somebody's ball dress — not Nellie's — 

Flow^ed round you in rivers of while. 

92 



LE DERNIER JOUR D' UN CONDAALXE: 



There 's a reprobate looseness about you ; 

Should I wear you to-night, I believe, 
As 1 come with my bride from the altar, 

You 'd laugh in your wicked old sleeve, 
When you felt there the tremulous pressure 

Of her hand, in its delicate glove, 
That is telling me, shyly but proudly. 

Her trust is as deep as her love. 

So, go to your grave in the ward-robe, 

And furnish a feast for the moth, 
Nell's glove shall betray its sweet secrets , 

To younger, more innocent cloth. 
'T is time to put on your successor — 

It 's made in a fashion that 's new; 
Old coat I 'm afraid it will never 

Set as easily on me as you. 

March h, 1S75. 

93 



CHRISTMAS GREENS. 



Oh, Lowbury i)astor is fair and young, 

By far too good for a single life. 
And many a maiden, saith Gossip's tongue, 

Would fain be T.owbury pastor's wife. 
So his book marks are "broidered in crimson and gold, 
And his slij^pers are, really, 'a sight to behold.' 

That's Lowbury pastor, sitting there 

On the cedar boughs bv the chancel rails; 

Ilis face is clouded widi carking care, 
For it *s nearly fi\-e, the daylight fails — 

The church is silent, — the girls all gone, 

And the Christmas wreaths not nearly done. 

94 



CIIRfS TMA S GREKXS. 



Two tiny boots crunch-crunch the snow, 
They saucily stamp at the transei)t door, 

And then up the pillared aisle they go 

Pit-pat, click-clack, on the marble floor — 

A lady fair doth that pastor see. 

And he saith, " Oh, bother, it isn't she ! " 

A lady in seal-skin — eyes of blue, 

And tangled tresses of snow-flecked gold — 
She s])eaks, " Good gracious ! can this be you, 

wSitting alone in the dark and cold ? 
The rest all gone ! Why, it wasn't right ; 
These texts will never be done to-night." 

She sits her down at her pastor's feet, 

And, wreathing evergreen, weaves her wiles, 
Heart-piercing glances l)right and fleet, 

95 





C/IRIS TMA S CRF.EXS. 




Soft little si 


ghs, and shy little smiles ; 




But the ])asto 


• is solemnly sulky and i^lum, 




And thinketh 


it strange that "she" doesn't 


come. 


Then she tell^ 


him earnestly, soft and low, 




How she \1 


do her part in this world of strife, 1 


AnJ humbly 


ook to him to know 




The i)ath tl 


at her feet should tread throi 


gh life — 


Her pastor yawneth behind his hat, 




And wondere 


Lh what she is driving at. 




Crunch-crunc 


1 again on the snow outside, 




The pastor 


riseth unto his feet, 




The vestry door is opened wide, 




A dark-eyec 


1 maid doth the pastor greet, 




And that lady 


fair can see and hear, 




Her pastcM" kiss her, and call her "dear." 






96 





CflR/S TMA S GRREXS. 



" Why Maud ! " " Why Nelly ! " those damsels cry; 
But lo, what troubles that lady lliir? 
On Nelly's finger there meets her eye 

The glow of a diamond solitaire. 
And she thinks, as she sees the glittering ring, 
" And so she 's got him — the hateful thing! " 

There sit they all 'neath the Christmas tree, 
For INIaud is determined that she won't go, 

The pastor is cross as a man can be, 
And Nelly would like to pinch her so, 

And they go on wreathing the text again — 

It is " Peace on earth and good-will towards men.'" 

December 24, 1S70. 



97 



T.AKE MAHOPAC— SATURDAY NIGHT 



Yv.s, 1 'in here, I suppose you 're delighted : 
You \1 lieard I was not coming cUnvn ! 

Why I 've been here a week ! — ' rather early 
1 know, but it 's horrid in town. 

A l^oston ? Most certainly, thank you. 

This music is perfectly sweet ; 
Of course I like dancing in summer ; 

It's warm, but I don't mind the heat — 



98 



LAKE MAHOPAC—SA TURD A V NIGHT. 



'I"he clumsy thing ! Oh, how he hurt me ! 

I really can't dance any more — 
Let 's walk — see, they 're forming a Lanciers 

These square dances are such a bore. 

My cloak — oh ! I really don't need it — 
Well, carry it, — so, in the folds^ 

I hate it, but Ma made me bring it ; 
She 's frightened to death about colds. 

This IS rather cooler than dancing, 
They 're lovely piazzas up here ; 

Those lanterns look sweet in the bushes. 
It 's lucky the night is so clear. 



99 



LAKE MAHOPAC-SA Ti 'RDA V NIGHT. 



I am rather tired — in this corner? — 
Very well, if you like — I don't care — 

But you "11 have to sit on the railing — 
You see there is only one chair. 

So long since you 've seen me ' — oh, ages ! — 

Let 's see, why it 's ten days ago — 
Seems years ' — oh ! of course — don't look spooney. 

It isn't becoming, you know. 

How bright the stars seem to-night, don't they .•* 

What was it you said about eyes.' 
How sweet ! — why you must be a poet — 

One never can tell till he tries. 



LAKE MAHOPAC^SATURDAY NIGHT. 



Why can't you be sensible, Harry ! 

I don't like men's arms on my chair. 
Be still ! if you don't stop this nonsense 

I "11 get up and leave you ; — so there ! 

Oh ! please don't — I don't want to hear it- 
A boy like you talking of love. 

M}' answer ! ' — Well, sir, you shall have it- 
Just wait till I get off my glove. 

See that } — Well, you needn't look tragic. 

It 's only a solitaire ring, — 
Of course I am ' proud of it ' — very — 

It 's rather an elegant thing. 



LAKE MAIIOrAC-SATURDA Y NIGHT. 



l^ngas^cd ! — yes— why, dicln'l }ou know it? 

I tlioiight the news must liave readied here- 
Why, the wedding will be in October — 

The ' happy man ? ' — Charley Leclear. 

Now don't blame me — I tried to stop you — 
But you 7VouId \^o on like a goose ; 

I 'm sorry it happened — forget it — 

Don't think of it — don't — what 's the use? 



There 's somebody coming— don't look so — 

Get up on the railing again — 
Can't sow seem, as if nothing had ha{)pened? 

I never saw such geese as men ! 



1 02 



LAKE MAHOPAC—SATURDA Y NIGHT. 



Ah, Charley, you 've found me ! A galop? 

The ' Bahn frei ? ' Yes ; take my bouquet- 
And my fan, if you will — now I 'm ready — 

You '11 excuse me, of course, Mr. Gray." 

October, 1872. 



103 



MATINAL :MUSINGS. 



Ten o'clock ! Well, I 'm sure I can't help it ! 

I 'm up — go away from the door ! 
Now, children, I '11 speak to your mother 

If you pound there like that any more. 

How tired I do feel ? — Where 's that cushion ?- 
I don't want to move from this chair ; 

I wish INIarie 'd make her a})pearance ! 
I reall}' cant do my own hair. 



104 



MATINAL MUSINGS. 



I wish I 'd not danced quite so often — 
I knew I 'd feel tired ! but it 's hard 

To refuse a magnificent dancer 

If you have a place left on your card. 

I was silly to wear that green satin. 
It "s a shame that I 've spotted it so — 

All down the front breath — ^it 's just ruined- 
No trimming will hide that, I know. 



That 's me ! Have a costume imported, 
And spoil it the very first night I — 

I might make an overskirt of it, 

That shade looks so lovely with white. 



105 



A/A TIXAL ML \S/XGS. 



How horrid my eyes look ! Good gracious ! 

I hope that I didn't catch cold 
Sitting out on the stairs with Will Stacy; 

If INIa knew that, wouldn't she scold ! 



She says he's so flist — well, who isn't? — 
Dear ! where is ]Marie? — how it rains ! — 

I don't care; he's real nice and handsome. 
And his talk sounds as if he "d some brains. 



I do wonder what is the reason, 

lliat good men are all like Joe Price, 

So poky, and stiff, and conceited, 
And fast ones are always so nice. — 



io6 



MATIXAL MUSINGS. 



Just see how joe acted last evening ! 

He didn't come near me at all, 
Because I danced twice with Will Stacy 

That night at the Charity ball. 

I didn't care two pins to do it ; 

But |oe said I mustn't, — and so — 
I just did — he isn't my master, 

Nor shan't be, I 'd like him to know. 



I don't think he looked at me even, 

I'hough just to please him I wore green. 

And I 'd saved him three elegant dances,— 
/ wouldn't have acted so mean. 



107 



MA TINAL MUSINGS. 


The waj 


)' he went on with Nell Hadley; 


Dear 


me ! just as if I would care ! 


I 'd like 


to see those two get married, 


They 


'd make a congenial pair ! 


I 'm getting disgusted with parties ; — 


I thin 


k T shall stop going out ; 


Wiiat 's 


the use of this fussing for people 


I don 


t care the least bit about. 


1 did think that Joe had some sense once ; 


lUit, my, he 's just Hke all the men ! 


And the 


way that 1 've gone on about him, — 1 


Just see if I do it again ! 




io8 







MATIN AL MUSINGS. 



Only wait till the next time I see him, 
I '11 pay him back ; won't I be cool ! 

I Ve a good mind to drop him completely- 
I '11 — yes I will — go back to school. 

The bell ! — who can that be, I wonder! — 
Let 's see — I declare ! why, it 's Joe ! — 

How long they are keeping him waiting ! 
Good gracious ! why don't the girl go !— 

Yes — say I'll be down in a minute — 
Quick, Marie, and do up my hair ! — 

Not that bow — the green one — Joe likes it- 
How slow you are ! — I '11 pin it — there ! 

April, 1873. 

109 



A KOMANCr: OF llll^ SAW-DUS'I' 



Si'tiiin' lo put in a slory ! 

I couldn't think of a tliin.L,^ 
'N' its ni.L;li unto lliirt\- year now 

Since fust I went into tlic rin^-. 
The life cxcitin'? ' 'I'hundcr ! 

'Variety,' (hd you say? 
You must have cur'us notions 

'Bout circuses, anyway. 
Till' diin_L;s that look so risky 

Aint nolhin" to us but biz. 
Accidents ' — falls and sich like? 

Sometimes, in course, there is. 



A ROMAXCE or THE SAW-DC ST. 



But it 's only a slip, or a stumble. 

Some feller laid out flat, 
It don't take more 'n a second ; 

There aint no story in that. 
'N' like as not, the tumble 

Don't do no harm at all : 
There 's one gal here— I tell yer, 

She got an awful fall. 
Vou know her — Ma am'selle Ida — 

She 's jimmy Barnet's wife, 
The prettiest liitle woman 

You ever see in yer life. 

They was lovers when ihey was }-oung uns. 

No more "n two hands high. 
She nussed Jim through a fever once, 

When the doctors swore he 'd die. 



A ROMAXCE OF THE SAW-DUST. 



I taught "em both the motions ; 

She never know \\ no fear, 
And they ve done the trapeze together 

For more 'n a coiij)le o' year. 
Last summer we took on a Spaniard, 

A mis'rable kind of a cuss, 
S[)ry feller — but awful tempered, 

Always a-makin' a fuss. 
He wanted to marry Ida — 

His chance was pretty slim, 
He did his best, but bless ycr, 

She "d never go back on Jim. 

He acted up so foolish, 

That Jim, one day, got riled 

'N' guv him a reg'lar whalin'; 
That druv the S})aniard wild. 

112 



A ROMANCE OF THE SAW-DUST. 

He talked like he 'was crazy, 

"N' raved around, and swore 
He 'd kill 'em both ; but Jim just laughed- 

He 'd heer"d such talk before. 
One day, when we was showin' 

In a little country town, 
Jim mashed his hand with a hatchet, 

Drivin' a tent stake down. 
He couldn't work that night, nohow. 

But the 'trap' hed got to be done. 

The Spaniard said he 'd try it — 

'N' they had to take him or none. ' 
I knew Jim didn't like it, 

'N' Ide looked scared and white 

Look out forme, boys," she whispered, 
" I 'm goin' to fall to-night ;"' 
"3 



A ROMANCE OF THE SAIV-DI'ST. 



Then she looked up with a shiver, 
At the trapeze swingin' there, 

A couple of bars and a rope or two 
Forty feet up in the air. 

But u}) she clumb — he arter — 
Stood up, but how Ide shook, 

Then the Spaniard yelled like a devil, 
"Now look, Jim Barnet ! — look ! '" — 

With that he jumped "n' grij)ped her; 

She fought, but he broke her hold, 
Grabbed at the rope, 'n' missed it — 

Off of the bar they rolled, 
Clinched, 'n' Ide a screamin'; 

Thud ! — they struck the ground ; 
I turned all sick and dizzy, 

'N' everything went round. 
114 



// ROMANCE OF THE SAW-DUST. 



How still it were for a second ! — 

It seemed like an hour — 'n' then 
The women was all a screechin', 

'N' the ring was full of men. 
Poor Jim was stoopin' to lift her, 

But flopped right down, 'n' said, 
Sez he, "Her lips is movin' ! 

She 's breathin' ! — She isn't dead ! 
For sure ! — he 'd fallen under ; 

It kinder broke her fall ; 
Except the scare, and a broken arm. 

She wasn't hurt at all. 

The Spaniard } ' Oh, it killed him ; 

It broke his cussed neck. 
But nobody cried their eyes out. 

As near as I reckeleck. 

"5 



A ROMA ACE OF THE SAIV-DUST. 


She married Jim soon arter, 




They 're doin' the trapeze still ; 




So, yer see, as I was say in", 




These falls don't always kill. 




'N' as for things exciting' 


•i 


']\) i)ut in a story, — well, 




I 'd really like to oblige yer. 




But then there aint nothin' to tell. 




June, 1872. 




116 





PYROTECHNIC POLYGLOT. 

(Madison Square, Jllv 4, 1871.) 



■ Hey, Johny McGinnis, where are yez ? 

I 've got a place ! Arrah, be quick !" 
Whiz ! Boom ! " Hooray, there goes a rocket ; 

Hi, Johny, look out for the shtick !" 
Confound it, sir ! Those are my feet, sir !" 

" Oh, pa, lift me up, I can't see." 
Come down out o' that, yez young blackguards ! 

Div yez want to be killin' the tree .^" 
Hooray ! look at that ?" " Aint it bully !" 
" It 's stuck !" "No, it aint." "There She goes !' 



/'YRO'/'ECI/XIC POL YGLOT. 



" I wish that \ou 'd speak to this man, Fred, 
He's standing" all over my toes." 

"Take down that nmbrella in front there!" 

" My ! aint we afraid of our hat !" 

" Me heart's fliirly broke wid yez shovin' — 

Have done now — what wud yez be at?" 

" Jehiel, neow haint this jest orful ! 

I 'most wish I hedn't a come ; 

Such actions I never — one would think 

Folks left their perliteness to hum." 

" Look here, now, you schoost stop dose schovin' 

" By gar, den, get out from ze vay, 

You stu})ide Dootschmans, vilain cochon '" — 

" Kreuz !" — 'Teste !" — " Donnerwetter !'' — 
"Sacr-r-re !" 

ii8 



PYR O TE CHA VC POL 1 uL O 7 '. 



" Oil, isn't that cross just too lovely ! 

So bright, why the light makes me wink !" 
" Your eyes, dear, are " — don't be a goose, Fred ; 
What do you suppose folks will think ? '" 
Crash ! Screech ! "Och I 'm kilt !''— "Fred, what is it?' 
" Branch broken — small bo}' come to grief." 
" Boo, hoo, hoo, hoo ! I wants mine muzzer !" 

" Look out there !" "Police !"' " Hi, stop thief!"' 
" Well, father, I guess it 's all over ; 

"Just help Nelly down off the stool." 



Sung : — " Mellican piecee fire bully !" 
Chixg : — " jNIellican man piecee fool."' 

June, 1S72. 



119 



FISHING. 



" Harry, where have you been all morning ? " 

*' Down at the pool in the meadow-brook." 
" Fishing.^ '' " Yes, but the trout were wary, 
Couldn't induce them to take a hook." 
" Why, look at your coat ! You must have flillen, 
Your back 's just covered with leaves and moss. 
How he laughs! (iood-natured fellow ! 
Fisherman's luck makes most men cross. 



FISHING. 



Nelly, the Wrights have called. Where were you ?' 

" Under the trees by the meadow-brook 
Reading, and oh, it was too lovely ; 

I never saw such a charming book." 
The charming book must have pleased her, trul}', 

There 's a happy light in her bright young eyes, 
And she hugs the cat with unusual fervor, 

I'o staid old Tabby's intense surprise. 

Reading .^ yes, but not from a novel. 

Fishing ! trul}', but not with a rod. 
Idle line is idle, the book neglected — 
-The water-grasses whisper and nod. 
The fisherman bold and the earnest reader 

Sit talking — of what.' Perhaps the weather. 
Perhaps — no matter — what e'er the subject, 

It brings them remarkably close together. 



FISIIIXG. 



It causes his words to be softly spoken, 

With many a Hngering pause between, 
The while the sun-beams chase the shadow^s 

Over the mosses, gray and green. 
Blushes are needful for its discussion. 

And soft, shy glances from downcast eyes, 
In whose blue depths are lying hidden 

Loving gladness, and sweet surprise. 

Trinity Chapel is gay this evening, 

Filled widi beauty, and flowers, and light, 
A captive fisherman stands at the altar. 

With Nelly beside him all in white. 
The ring is on, the vows are spoken. 

And smiling friends, good fortune wishing, 
Tell him his is the fliirest i)rize 

I^ver brought from a morning's fishing. 

August, 1872. 



^-f:^^t.^ 




NOCTURNE. 



Summer is over, and llic leaves arc falling, 
Gold, iire-enameled in the glowing sun; 

The sobbing pine-top, the cicada calling 
Chime men to vesper-musing, day is done. 

The fresh, green sod, in dead, dry leaves is hidden: 
They rustle very sadiv in the breeze ; 

Some breathing from the past comes, all unbidden, 
And in my heart stir withered memories. 
123 



iXOCTL'RNE. 



Day fades away ; the stars show in the azure, 

Brii^hl with the i;low of eyes that know not tears, 

Unchanged, uncliangeable, like God's good pleasure, 
I'he}- smile and reck not of the weary years. 

Men tell us that the stars it knows are leaving 
Our onward rolling globe, and in their j)lace 

New constellations rise — is death bereaving 
I'he old Karth, too, of each flimiliar face? 

Our loved ones lea\-e us ; so we all grow fonder 
Of their world than of ours ; for here we seem 

Alone in haunted houses, and we wonder 

Which is the waking life, and which the dream. 

OCTOBI'.R, 1S70. 



124 



AU^rO-DA-FE. 



(He Explains.) 

Oh, just burning uj) some old papers, 

I'hey do make a good deal of smoke ; 
That's riglit, Dolly, open the window; 

lliey '11 blaze if you give them a poke. 
I 've got a lot more in the closet ; 

Just look al the dust ! What a mess ! 
Why, read it, of course, if you want to. 

It s only a letter, I guess. 

125 



AUTO-DA-FE. 



(She Reads.) 

Just me, and my pipe, and the fire-light. 

Whose mystical circles of red 
Protect me alone with the shadows ; 

The smoke-wreaths engarland my head; 
And the strains of a waltz, half forgotten, 

The favorite waltz of the year, 
Played softly by fairy musicians, 

Chime sweetly and low on my ear. 

The smoke-cloud floats thickly around me, 
All perfumed and white, till it seems 

A bride-veil magicians have woven 
To honor the bride of my dreams. 

Float on, dreamy waltz, through my fancies, 
My thoughts in your harmony twine ! 
126 



AUTO-DA-FE. 



Draw near, phantom face, in your beauty, 
Look deep, phantom eyes, into mine. 

Sweet lips — crimson buds half unfolded — 

Give breath to the exquisite voice, 
That, waking the strands of my being 

To melody, bids me rejoice. 
Dream, soul, till the world's dream is ended ! 

Dream heart, of your beautiful past ! 
For dreaming is better than weeping, 

And all things but dreams at the last. 

Change rules in the world of the waking — 

It's laughter aye ends in a sigh; 
Dreams only are changeless — immortal: 

A dream-love alone cannot die. 

127 



AUTO-DA-FE. 



Toil, fools ! Sow your liopes in the furrows, 
Rich harvest of failure you "11 reaj); 

Life's riddle is read the most truly 
By men who but talk in their sleep. 



(He Rkmonstr A'rKs. ) 

There, stop ! That '11 do — yes, I own it — • 

But, dear, I was young then, you know. 
I wrote that before we were married ; 

Let 's see — -why it 's ten years ago ! 
You remember that night, at Drake's jiarty, 

When you flirted with Dick all the time.^ 
I left in a state quite pathetic, 

And went home to scribble that rhyme. 

128 



AUTO-DA-FE. 



What a bov I was then with nw dream in 12:, 

And reading- the riddle of life ! 
Vou gave a good guess at its meaning 

The night you said 'Yes,' little wife. 
One kiss for old times' sake, my Dolly — 

']'hat didn't seem much like a dream. 
Holloa ! something 's wrong with the children 

Those young ones do nothing but scream. 



May, 1872. 



[29 



AN AFTERl HOUGH r 



Vine leaves rustled, moonbeams shone, 

Summer breezes softly sighed ; 
You and I were all alone 

In a kingdom fair and wide; 

You, a Queen, in all your pride, 

I, a vassal, by your side. 

Fairy voices in the leaves 
Ceaselessly were whispering: 

"r is the time to garner sheaves — 
Let your heart its longing sing, 
Place upon her hand a ring, 
Then our ()ueen shall know her Kim 



J A' AFTERTHOUGHT. 



E'en t!ie moonbeams seemed to learn 
Speech when they had kissed your face, 

Passing fair — my Hps did yearn 
To be moonbeams for a space — 

" Lo, 'tis fitting time and place ! 
Speak, and courage will find grace.'' 

But the night wind murmured low, 

Softly brushing back your hair. 
Look into her face, and know 

That she is a jewel rare, 

Worthy of a monarch's heir; 

Who are you, that you should dare !" 

Hope died like a frost-touched flower; 

But through all the coming years. 
In that quiet evening hour, 

131 



AA' AFTERTHOUGHT. 



When the flowers are all in tears, 
When the heart halh hopes and fears, 
When the day world disappears, 

If the vine leaves rustle low, 
If the moon shine on the sea, 

If the night wind softly blow, — 
Dreaming of what may not be, — 
Well I know that I shall see 
Your sweet eyes look down on me. 

September, 1873. 



132 



